Agenda item
Notices of Motion
To consider the following Notices of Motion under Standing Order 12:
A – Motions referred from the Cabinet in accordance with Standing Order 12.1(a)
None
B – Motions submitted for consideration directly by Council, in accordance with Standing Order 12.1(b)
(i) From Cllr Fraser
“Council recognises the current challenging economic climate all businesses in York and elsewhere are facing, and notes the particular challenges for small and medium-sized businesses in the city, particularly in ‘secondary’ streets such as Micklegate, Gillygate, Goodramgate and Fossgate/Walmgate.
Council further recognises the contribution that small, medium-sized and distinctive businesses, and community resources, such as community centres, churches, heritage sites etc. contribute to the attractiveness of York and to our local economy.
Council therefore resolves:
1. to better co-ordinate and support the efforts of the associations of the businesses and community organisations, such as the Micklegate Quarter, the Minster Quarter, Acomb Team and BishyRoad.com;
2. to highlight the efforts of such associations in the wider communications and publicity of the Council;
3. to develop a coherent strategy to support these efforts for consideration by Elected Members.”
(ii) From Cllr Gillies
Council notes:
That England is now widely recognised to be the country with the most centralised system of government in Europe;
That devolution has brought decisions about tax and spending and the quality of public services closer to voters in Scotland and Wales, while English voters have not gained comparably greater influence over decision making that affects their taxes and services;
Council believes:
That the likely scale of change in how public services are funded and provided makes it democratically unsustainable for those changes to be decided within the existing over-centralised model;
That services need to be reformed and integrated across local agencies to enable them to prevent problems rather than picking up the pieces;
That York voters should be given a meaningful say on a wider range of tax and spending decisions, through place-based budgetary arrangements, the abolition of the discredited Barnett formula and the restatement of fair financial distribution agreed among English councils, the re-creation of a municipal bond market, and the certainty of multi year funding settlements for the life of a Parliament;
That central government should enable local decision making by joining up and reducing in size Whitehall departments in order to facilitate local place-based budgets, by reducing Ministers’ powers to intervene in local decisions;
That such a new more mature settlement between central and local government should be put beyond future revision by giving formal constitutional protection to local democracy; therefore
Council Resolves To;
1a. Support the Local Government Association “Re-Wiring Public Services” campaign, in order to give York residents real reasons to participate in local decision making.
1b. Invite York Members of Parliament to join with City of York Councillors in supporting the campaign, and to ensure the Secretary of State is made aware of this Council’s support for the campaign.
2. To make CYC’s position clear to the Secretary of State.
(iii) From Cllr Ayre
“Council notes:
The results of this year’s Big York Survey show that overall satisfaction with the Council is down and residents are increasingly concerned about basic service standards such as having clean and maintained streets.
The October Cabinet report, in response to the Big York Survey, says that a “realignment of priorities” to focus on basic street level services is necessary and claims that under Labour there has been a “shift in funding from day to day services” and a “cut in frontline services”. The report admits “the city needs to be cleaner”.
The cuts made to basic services under Labour have included cuts to litter bins, salt bins, road maintenance, recycling centres and street cleaning. The recent ‘Winter Maintenance’ consultation shows further cuts are planned.
The October Cabinet report states that frontline services have been sacrificed to pursue economic growth; however, as the ‘Big York Survey’ reveals residents do not believe the Labour Cabinet has been successful in supporting economic growth or job creation.
Council believes:
The Labour Cabinet’s proposed response to the concerns of residents is inadequate and only offers more speculative spending on a £500,000 ‘Transformation Team’, more publicity gimmicks from the Cabinet Leader, and a failure to reverse spending on vanity projects or reverse cuts to street level services.
This Labour Cabinet has lost its way and needs to get back to the basics of delivering frontline services to taxpayers in York rather than wasting millions on vanity schemes.
Council calls on Cabinet to:
1) Review funding (particularly revenue expenditure) currently supporting ‘Economic Infrastructure Fund’ schemes such as the Arts Barge, with a view to reallocating the money to frontline services and change the ‘Delivery and Innovation Fund’ to finance residents’ priorities.
2) Review the decisions that have led to the deterioration in the cleanliness of the York, including the cuts to litter bins, salt bins and gritting provision, cuts to the road maintenance budget, cuts to ward committee funding, and the decision to scrap ‘York Pride’.
3) Report to every Full Council meeting between now and May 2015 on what steps have been taken to reprioritise the delivery of frontline services to taxpayers in York.
4) Scrap the proposed £500,000 ‘Transformation Team’ and spend all available money from this on frontline services both inside and outside the city-centre and in response to the priorities of residents, Parish Councils and Residents Associations. ”
(iv) From Cllr Burton
“Council notes the estimated regional economic benefits of £87m as well as local efforts made to bring the Tour de France Grand Départ to York.
Council believes the event will bring the community together and provide a huge economic boost for the city.
Council resolves to ensure that all income generated for City of York Council from the Tour de France Grand Départ is spent on frontline services for residents.”
Minutes:
At this point in the meeting, the guillotine fell and all the following motions and amendments were deemed moved and seconded. Where a proposer and seconder were before Council, at the time of the guillotine falling, details are listed below:
(i) Challenges for Businesses in the City (proposed by Cllr Fraser)
“Council recognises the current challenging economic climate all businesses in York and elsewhere are facing, and notes the particular challenges for small and medium-sized businesses in the city, particularly in ‘secondary’ streets such as Micklegate, Gillygate, Goodramgate and Fossgate/Walmgate.
Council further recognises the contribution that small, medium-sized and distinctive businesses, and community resources, such as community centres, churches, heritage sites etc. contribute to the attractiveness of York and to our local economy.
Council therefore resolves:
1. to better co-ordinate and support the efforts of the associations of the businesses and community organisations, such as the Micklegate Quarter, the Minster Quarter, Acomb Team and BishyRoad.com;
2. to highlight the efforts of such associations in the wider communications and publicity of the Council;
3. to develop a coherent strategy to support these efforts for consideration by Elected Members.”
First amendment proposed by Councillor D’Agorne and seconded by Councillor Taylor as follows:
“In the second paragraph, final line, after the words ‘and to’ insert the words ‘the resilience of’.
Insert additional final resolution as follows:
4. to ensure that the needs of small and medium sized businesses are strongly reflected in the economic strategy and local plan for York.
On being put to the vote the amendment was declared CARRIED.
The motion, as amended, now reads as follows:
“Council recognises the current challenging economic climate all businesses in York and elsewhere are facing, and notes the particular challenges for small and medium-sized businesses in the city, particularly in ‘secondary’ streets such as Micklegate, Gillygate, Goodramgate and Fossgate/Walmgate.
Council further recognises the contribution that small, medium-sized and distinctive businesses, and community resources, such as community centres, churches, heritage sites etc. contribute to the attractiveness of York and to the resilience of our local economy.
Council therefore resolves:
1. to better co-ordinate and support the efforts of the associations of the businesses and community organisations, such as the Micklegate Quarter, the Minster Quarter, Acomb Team and BishyRoad.com;
2. to highlight the efforts of such associations in the wider communications and publicity of the Council;
3. to develop a coherent strategy to support these efforts for consideration by Elected Members.
4. to ensure that the needs of small and medium sized businesses are strongly reflected in the economic strategy and local plan for York.”
Second amendment proposed by Councillor Aspden as follows:
“Insert new second paragraph as follows:
“Council welcomes the turnaround from Cabinet which, having originally voted down a Liberal Democrat amendment on working with Acomb traders in December, is now engaging with the local traders association, Acomb Alive!”
The amendment was declared LOST.
On being put to the vote, the motion, as amended above, was declared CARRIED and it was
Resolved: That the motion, as amended, be approved.1.
(ii) Local Government Association ‘Re-wiring Public Services’ campaign
“Council notes:
That England is now widely recognised to be the country with the most centralised system of government in Europe;
That devolution has brought decisions about tax and spending and the quality of public services closer to voters in Scotland and Wales, while English voters have not gained comparably greater influence over decision making that affects their taxes and services;
Council believes:
That the likely scale of change in how public services are funded and provided makes it democratically unsustainable for those changes to be decided within the existing over-centralised model;
That services need to be reformed and integrated across local agencies to enable them to prevent problems rather than picking up the pieces;
That York voters should be given a meaningful say on a wider range of tax and spending decisions, through place-based budgetary arrangements, the abolition of the discredited Barnett formula and the restatement of fair financial distribution agreed among English councils, the re-creation of a municipal bond market, and the certainty of multi year funding settlements for the life of a Parliament;
That central government should enable local decision making by joining up and reducing in size Whitehall departments in order to facilitate local place-based budgets, by reducing Ministers’ powers to intervene in local decisions;
That such a new more mature settlement between central and local government should be put beyond future revision by giving formal constitutional protection to local democracy; therefore
Council Resolves To;
1a. Support the Local Government Association “Re-Wiring Public Services” campaign, in order to give York residents real reasons to participate in local decision making.
1b. Invite York Members of Parliament to join with City of York Councillors in supporting the campaign, and to ensure the Secretary of State is made aware of this Council’s support for the campaign.
2. To make CYC’s position clear to the Secretary of State.”
Amendment proposed by Cllr Alexander as follows:
“Insert new second paragraph as follows:
We also note the good work of some Government Ministers such as Greg Clark and Nick Clegg in pushing for devolution through city deals such as the Leeds City Region. This represents the largest decentralisation programme since devolution after 1997.
Following second paragraph insert the sentence:
We should support organisations such as the Hannah Mitchell Foundation and Yorkshire Devolution Movement.
In the fourth line of the fourth paragraph, following the words ‘local decisions’ insert the words ‘such as overturning its planning decisions.’
In resolution 1b), second line, following the word ‘campaign’ insert (including support for devolution through the Leeds City Region combined authority).
Insert new resolution 1c) as follows:
That COYC re-affirms its decision taken in March 2012; ie Council resolves to lead a campaign for regional government for Yorkshire and the Humber.
At the end of resolution 2. insert the words ‘including support for devolution through the Leeds City Region combined authority.’
On being put to the vote the amendment was declared CARRIED.
The motion, as amended, now reads as follows:
“Council notes:
That England is now widely recognised to be the country with the most centralised system of government in Europe; That devolution has brought decisions about tax and spending and the quality of public services closer to voters in Scotland and Wales, while English voters have not gained comparably greater influence over decision making that affects their taxes and services.
We also note the good work of some Government Ministers such as Greg Clark and Nick Clegg in pushing for devolution through city deals such as the Leeds City Region. This represents the largest decentralisation programme since devolution after 1997.
Council believes:
That the likely scale of change in how public services are funded and provided makes it democratically unsustainable for those changes to be decided within the existing over-centralised model; That services need to be reformed and integrated across local agencies to enable them to prevent problems rather than picking up the pieces.
We should support organisations such as the Hannah Mitchell Foundation and Yorkshire Devolution Movement.
That York voters should be given a meaningful say on a wider range of tax and spending decisions, through place-based budgetary arrangements, the abolition of the discredited Barnett formula and the restatement of fair financial distribution agreed among English councils, the re-creation of a municipal bond market, and the certainty of multi year funding settlements for the life of a Parliament;
That central government should enable local decision making by joining up and reducing in size Whitehall departments in order to facilitate local place-based budgets, by reducing Ministers’ powers to intervene in local decisions such as overturning its planning decisions.
That such a new more mature settlement between central and local government should be put beyond future revision by giving formal constitutional protection to local democracy; therefore Council Resolves to;
1a. Support the Local Government Association “Re-Wiring Public Services” campaign, in order to give York residents real reasons to participate in local decision making.
1b. Invite York Members of Parliament to join with City of York Councillors in supporting the campaign (including support for devolution through the Leeds City Region combined authority), and to ensure the Secretary of State is made aware of this Council’s support for the campaign.
1c. That COYC re-affirms its decision taken in March 2012; ie Council resolves to lead a campaign for regional government for Yorkshire and the Humber.
2. To make CYC’s position clear to the Secretary of State including support for devolution through the Leeds City Region combined authority.”
On being put to the vote, the motion, as amended, was declared CARRIED and it was
Resolved: That the above motion, as amended, be approved.2.
(iii) Reprioritising the Delivery of Front Line Services (proposed by Cllr Ayre)
“Council notes:
The results of this year’s Big York Survey show that overall satisfaction with the Council is down and residents are increasingly concerned about basic service standards such as having clean and maintained streets.
The October Cabinet report, in response to the Big York Survey, says that a “realignment of priorities” to focus on basic street level services is necessary and claims that under Labour there has been a “shift in funding from day to day services” and a “cut in frontline services”. The report admits “the city needs to be cleaner”.
The cuts made to basic services under Labour have included cuts to litter bins, salt bins, road maintenance, recycling centres and street cleaning. The recent ‘Winter Maintenance’ consultation shows further cuts are planned.
The October Cabinet report states that frontline services have been sacrificed to pursue economic growth; however, as the ‘Big York Survey’ reveals residents do not believe the Labour Cabinet has been successful in supporting economic growth or job creation.
Council believes:
The Labour Cabinet’s proposed response to the concerns of residents is inadequate and only offers more speculative spending on a £500,000 ‘Transformation Team’, more publicity gimmicks from the Cabinet Leader, and a failure to reverse spending on vanity projects or reverse cuts to street level services.
This Labour Cabinet has lost its way and needs to get back to the basics of delivering frontline services to taxpayers in York rather than wasting millions on vanity schemes.
Council calls on Cabinet to:
1) Review funding (particularly revenue expenditure) currently supporting ‘Economic Infrastructure Fund’ schemes such as the Arts Barge, with a view to reallocating the money to frontline services and change the ‘Delivery and Innovation Fund’ to finance residents’ priorities.
2) Review the decisions that have led to the deterioration in the cleanliness of the York, including the cuts to litter bins, salt bins and gritting provision, cuts to the road maintenance budget, cuts to ward committee funding, and the decision to scrap ‘York Pride’.
3) Report to every Full Council meeting between now and May 2015 on what steps have been taken to reprioritise the delivery of frontline services to taxpayers in York.
4) Scrap the proposed £500,000 ‘Transformation Team’ and spend all available money from this on frontline services both inside and outside the city-centre and in response to the priorities of residents, Parish Councils and Residents Associations. ”
First amendment proposed by Cllr Barton as follows:
“In the final paragraph headed ‘Council calls on Cabinet to:”
In 1) Insert the words “and blanket 20mph areas” in the third line, following the words “Arts Barge.”
In 2) Insert the words “green bins” in the third line, following the words “salt bins.”
Insert new point 5) Abandon the York Consortium concept, bring back the previous Ward Funding scheme in an attempt to engage and enthuse local residents in building stronger communities, based on the needs as they see them.
The amendment was declared LOST.
In accordance with her powers under Standing Orders, the Lord Mayor ruled the following amendment, which had been submitted by Cllr Levene, out of order as it negated the motion debated in Cllr Ayre’s name:
“In the first paragraph, second line, delete from “is down...” until the end of the paragraph and replace with:
“has remained steady, despite the Council having to make savings due to massive Government funding cuts, but having clean and maintained streets is becoming an area for improvement for an increasing number of residents”
In the second paragraph, second line, delete from “a “realignment of priorities”...” until the end of the paragraph and replace with:
“while investment in the long term will ensure much greater ongoing financial viability for York taxpayers, and evidence “that pursuing a growth agenda has a clear significant financial return for the Council”, work does need to be done to address residents’ concerns about cleanliness.”
Delete third paragraph.
In the fourth paragraph, delete “frontline services have been sacrificed” and replace with “the Council has taken a prudent, long-term, evidence-based, successful decision”; delete “however, as” and replace with “and as a result”, and delete from “do not believe...” to the end of the paragraph and replace with “have less concern about economic growth or job creation due to the Labour administration’s success in this area”
In the fifth paragraph, delete from “inadequate and only offers...” until the end of the paragraph and replace with:
“welcome and offers a financially sound decision to invest in a Transformation Programme that will pay for itself several times over in efficiency savings; a concerted focus on community engagement, volunteer recruitment and partnership working; a budget-setting process that will more strongly focus on identified priorities; a new, clearer approach to consultation; and a commitment to work with Group Leaders to improve the Council’s Scrutiny function”
In the sixth paragraph, delete from “lost it’s way...” until the end of theparagraph and replace with:
“been forced to make significant savings due to unprecedented, disproportionate and counterproductive cuts from the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government, but despite this has invested soundly in the local economy, maintained services and will continue to make improvements in response to feedback from residents”
Delete resolution 1) and replace with “Implement a priority-based approach in setting the 2015/16 budget.”
Delete resolution 2) and replace with:
“Take forward measures to work with the community to co-deliver frontline services through the new, dedicated Smarter York officers; investigate opportunities to decrease littering through education, technological investments and strengthened enforcement; develop our volunteer engagement strategy; undertake a review of commercial waste arrangements with city centre businesses in order to address concerns about storage and collections; proceed with the Hazel Court Transformation project in order to improve depot-based services; and continue with the “Big Clean” projects to deliver an improved street environment through partnership working.”
Delete resolution 3) and replace with “Continue to receive updates from the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services in line with the schedule for Cabinet Member reports.”
Delete resolution 4) and replace with “Look for opportunities where the Council may invest in order to make greater savings, such as the proposed Transformation Programme”
On being put to the vote, the original motion was declared LOST and it was
Resolved: That the motion be not approved.
(iv) Tour De France Grand Départ (proposed by Cllr Burton)
“Council notes the estimated regional economic benefits of £87m as well as local efforts made to bring the Tour de France Grand Départ to York.
Council believes the event will bring the community together and provide a huge economic boost for the city.
Council resolves to ensure that all income generated for City of York Council from the Tour de France Grand Départ is spent on frontline services for residents.”
First amendment proposed by Cllr D’Agorne as follows:
Delete final paragraph and replace with:
“Council resolves to maximise the income generated for City of York Council (from parking and other charges) to offset the estimated net £0.8m already committed to the project and the additional traffic management, servicing and rubbish disposal costs, and seeks to minimise the impact of these costs on frontline services for residents.”
Insert an additional final paragraph as follows:
“Council resolves to use its role in hosting the start of Day 2 of the Tour de France Grand Depart to make it the 'greenest Tour de France ever' by seeking to influence the organisers and caterers in their choice of packaging, promotional products and waste recycling arrangements.”
The first amendment on being put to the votes was declared LOST.
The second amendment was proposed by Cllr Hyman as follows:
“At the end of the second paragraph, following the words ‘boost for the city’ insert the following paragraph:
“Council resolves to ask officers to produce a full business case for hosting the Tour De France by November 1st. This will include a cost-benefit analysis of the project, expenditure already committed, expected future costs, details of which budget(s) committed and planned expenditure is coming from, anticipated risks, projected income, and a robust performance measurement method”.
Council resolves to ensure that all income generated for City of York Council from the Tour de France Grand Départ is spent on frontline services for residents.”
On being put to the vote the second amendment was also declared LOST.
On being put to the vote, the motion was declared CARRIED and it was
Resolved: That the motion be approved. 3.